I just want to take a step back and really think about what it is that I really want. I know what kind of man I want, but what kind of relationship do I want. My recent trip to relationship-land opened my eyes to a few potential problems I hadn’t really thought about. What kind of relationship do I want with the guy’s family? If he has children, what kind of relationship do I want with them?

I’ve always said I wanted to date a man with children. I have a child, well teen, actually, who’s fifteen. Fifteen and a half, if you ask him. I have no intentions of starting over and having more children. The choice whether or not to have children is one of those things you can’t really compromise with in a relationship, you either have them or you don’t. Dating a guy who already has children would bypass a potential relationship pitfall.

But, what kind of relationship would I want to have with the children? Would I want to be an active member in their lives? Would I want to go to Little League games? Would I want to baby-sit on days my guy has to work? Would I want to take them shopping, to the movies, to that hell called Chuck E. Cheese?

I never really thought about that.

That’s definitely giving me reason to pause.

And what kind of relationship would he want me to have with his children, and he with mine? Would he have the same ideas as I do? And if not, is he willing to compromise?

Good questions.

Definitely not something I thought about before.

And definitely something that I’m thinking about now.

Hmmmmmm…….

Maybe I’ll ponder that one some more tomorrow. For now, I think I need a good long nap!